Strip-shaped textile product and method for the production of an object reinforced with the textile product

ABSTRACT

The weft threads ( 14 ) of a textile product ( 10 ) run at an angle of at least approximately 70 degrees with respect to its warp threads ( 12 ) and the weft threads ( 14 ) protrude, by a piece, beyond the outermost warp threads ( 12′ ), on at least one side of the strip-shaped textile product ( 10 ) in a strip-shaped textile product ( 10 ), consisting, in particular, of filaments, threads, or a yarn, for use as a reinforcement layer for hoses, tubes, pressure containers, and similar hollow objects. Alternately or in addition, the warp threads ( 12 ) are formed thinner than the remaining warp threads ( 12 ) in at least one boundary area (R) of the textile product ( 10 ).

[0001] The invention refers to a strip-shaped textile product, inparticular, consisting of filaments, threads, or yam, for use as areinforcement layer for hoses, tubes, pressure containers, and similarobjects, in accordance with the preamble of claim 1, and method for theproduction of a hose, tube, pressure container, or a similar object,reinforced with the textile product.

[0002] Methods are generally known for increasing the strength (inparticular, the bursting pressure is meant here) of a hose, tube,pressure container, or a similar hollow object in that the wall of theobject is provided with a layer of reinforcement material. Usually, thisreinforcement layer is a textile product, for example, one or morescrew-shaped, wound threads or also fabric inserts. The application ofsuch reinforcement inserts is time- and labor-consuming. If only onereinforcement layer is applied, the desired reinforcement effect is notattained because of the anisotropic characteristics of the used textileproducts, so that frequently, at least two, and often also morereinforcement layers are applied on the wall of the object.

[0003] The goal of the invention is to indicate a textile productsuitable for use as a reinforcement layer, which is simple to produceand which can produce a clearly improved reinforcement effect, incomparison to traditionally used textile products. Moreover, the goal ofthe invention is to indicate a method with which, in a simple manner andwith the use of the prepared textile product, a hose, a tube, a pressurecontainer, or a similar hollow object can be reinforced effectively andat low cost.

[0004] On the basis of a generic, strip-shaped textile product with awarp direction, running in the longitudinal direction of the textileproduct, and a weft direction, this goal is attained in that the weft ofthe textile product runs at an angle of at least approximately 70degrees with respect to the warp, and that at least on one side of thestrip-shaped textile product, the weft sticks out, by a piece, beyondthe lateral warp. “Warp” and “weft” are understood to mean here thetotality of the warp threads or yams or filaments or the weft threads oryarns or filaments—that is, the entire warp structure or weft structureof the textile product.

[0005] By having the weft, in accordance with the invention, run at anangle of at least approximately 70 degrees (70°32′ are optimal) withrespect to the warp and having a piece, at least on one side, projectfar beyond the outermost border of the warp, such a strip-shaped textilecan be applied on an object which is to be reinforced in a manner whichis optimal with regard to the reinforcement effect. The weft of thetextile product, in accordance with the invention, running at an angleof at least and approximately 70 degrees with respect to the warp, makesit thereby possible to apply the textile product on the object to bereinforced in such a way that both the warp and also the weft of thetextile product, in accordance with the invention, run at an angle ofprecisely 55 degrees with respect to the longitudinal direction of thehollow object to be reinforced. This angle, which, in the literature isfrequently indicated also with regard to a direction perpendicular tothe longitudinal direction and then is somewhat more than 35 degrees (inthe optimal case 35°16′), is also known as the so-called neutral angle.“Approximately 70 degrees” within the scope of the application underconsideration is understood to mean that the angle need not be precisely70 degrees, but rather can lie in a range of, for example, 60-80degrees. What is basically valid is that the reinforcing effect of thetextile product, in accordance with the invention, is all the worseafter the application on an object to be reinforced, the more the anglediffers from the optimal value of 70°32′, because then the warp and theweft can no longer run at the aforementioned optimal angle of precisely55 degrees. However, for certain application cases, it may beadvantageous to design the textile product, in accordance with theinvention, in such a way that the angle of approximately 55 degrees isestablished only when the object to be reinforced with the textileproduct, in accordance with the invention, is under an interior pressureload, as it usually occurs in the operation of the pertinent object.This can mean that the weft of the textile product, in accordance withthe invention, runs at an angle, in the unstressed state, which more orless clearly differs from 70 degrees.

[0006] The weft of the textile product, in accordance with theinvention, which projects, at least on one side, by a piece, beyond theoutermost warp—when the textile product is wound on the body to bereinforced—leads to a better binding of the boundary areas of thetextile product, among one another, which overlap during winding.Moreover, the protruding weft pieces of the textile product, inaccordance with the invention, find a good support in the matrix, whichsurrounds the textile product in the finished state of the reinforcedobject. In this way—that is, through the better binding of theindividual windings, among one another, in the weft direction, and bythe better anchoring of the weft in the matrix, the textile product, inaccordance with the invention, has practically the same goodreinforcement characteristics not only in the warp direction, but alsoin the weft direction.

[0007] According to one alternative of the textile product, inaccordance with the invention, the weft runs at an angle of at least andapproximately 70 degrees with respect to the warp, and the warpstructure is designed thinner in one boundary area—at least on one sideof the textile product—than the rest of the warp structure. This opensup the possibility of allowing the corresponding boundary area tooverlap with the next axially following winding, during the winding on abody to be reinforced, without increasing the total thickness of thereinforcement layer in the overlapping area. Analogous to the laterallyprotruding weft pieces, the overlapping of the boundary areas with themore thinly designed warp structure leads to a better binding of theindividual windings, among one another, in the weft direction and to abetter anchoring of the critical overlapping area from one winding tothe next in the matrix and thus to similarly good strengthcharacteristics, as the first-mentioned alternative of the textileproduct, in accordance with the invention.

[0008] Advantageously, the two alternatives can also be combined—thatis, on at least one side of the strip-shaped textile product in oneboundary area, the warp structure is designed more thinly than theremaining warp structure, and the weft sticks out, by a piece, beyondthe outermost warp on this side (and/or on the other side). The strengthcharacteristics and thus the reinforcement effect of the textileproduct, in accordance with the invention, can be improved, once more,in this way.

[0009] In a further development of the textile product, in accordancewith the invention, the warps or the warp structure are/is made ofanother material than the remaining warp structure on at least one sideof the textile product in one boundary area. Thus, for example, in spiteof a thinner warp structure, a tensile strength corresponding to theremaining warp structure can also be obtained in the boundary area.

[0010] In preferred embodiments, the strip-shaped textile product, inaccordance with the invention, is a scrim product. Scrim products areparticularly advantageous for the indicated purpose, since no cutting ofthe warp structure into the weft structure and vice-versa takes place.Therefore, a weakening of the individual structures at the intersectionpoints is avoided with a scrim product. In addition, the required,scrim-product fixing matrix provides for a separation of the individualthreads, filaments, or yarns from one another. Moreover, a scrim productcan be produced very quickly and thus at low cost. Instead of a scrimproduct, the textile product, in accordance with the invention, however,can also be a woven fabric or a knitted product, or something similar.

[0011] The method, in accordance with the invention, is characterized,by the step of the winding of a previously described textile productonto a core of a hose, tube, pressure container, or a similar hollowobject. The winding is thereby undertaken in such a way that the warp orthe warp structure of the textile product runs at an angle of at leastapproximately 55 degrees with respect to the longitudinal direction ofthe object to be reinforced and that the weft pieces, which protrudebeyond the outermost warp, and/or the boundary areas of the strip-shapedtextile product, adjacent to one another and in which the warp structureis thinner than the rest of the warp structure, overlap. As was alreadyexplained, both the warp direction and the weft direction of a textileproduct, in accordance with the invention, then run at an angle, whichis optimal from a perspective of strength, and is at least approximately55 degrees with respect to the longitudinal direction (35 degrees withrespect to the transverse direction) of the object to be reinforced,wherein in an interplay with the better-anchored boundary areas of thestrip-shaped textile product, which are better bound with one another,an excellent reinforcement effect is attained with only one singlelayer. In contrast to the two reinforcement layers previously requiredfor such a reinforcement, a winding station can be dispensed with in theproduction of, for example, a hose, which is reinforced with a textileproduct in accordance with the invention.

[0012] In a modification of the method in accordance with the invention,the textile product is wound on the object to be reinforced, so that theangle of at least approximately 55 degrees with respect to thelongitudinal direction of the object to be reinforced is establishedonly under the interior pressure load common in the operation of thepertinent object. This means that during the wrapping of the object tobe reinforced, the warp of the textile product does not yet run at thedesired angle of approximately 55 degrees with respect to thelongitudinal direction of the object to be reinforced.

[0013] In order to bring the textile product used for the reinforcementinto a good, load-carrying bonding with the object to be reinforced, thetextile product, in accordance with one development of the method inaccordance with the invention, is wound on a layer of soft matrixmaterial which is later reinforced, however. The textile product thenenters into the desired, close bond with the matrix material.

[0014] In accordance with one alternative, the textile product can alsobe wound on the aforementioned core first (for example, an interiorlayer) of the object to be reinforced and subsequently, a layer of asoft matrix material, which is reinforced later, is brought onto thetextile product.

[0015] In accordance with another alternative, the textile productitself can contain the matrix material already, so that by increasingthe temperature, which leaves the rest of the textile product unchanged,the matrix material becomes soft and in the course of a later cooling,which takes place on the aforementioned core after the application onthe textile product, is again reinforced. With the last-mentioneddevelopment, the matrix material can be part of a thread or yarn of thetextile product. For example, the used threads can consist of twocomponents, of which one component is the matrix material and the secondcomponent, the carrying material. Likewise, yarns consisting of variousthreads or fibers can be used, wherein, in turn, certain threads orfibers take over the carrying function and other threads or fibersprepare the matrix material.

[0016] If the discussion in the preceding has been of a matrix material,which is reinforced later, then depending on the application case, thiscan mean that the matrix material is rigid (for example, in theproduction of reinforced tubes); it can, however, also mean that thematrix material becomes solid but remains elastic thereby (for example,in the production of flexible hoses). The matrix material can coincidewith the material of which the object to be reinforced is made (forexample, with hoses or tubes made of plastic), or it can be anothermaterial.

[0017] For a better explanation of the invention, reference is madebelow to two figures, of which:

[0018]FIG. 1 shows an exemplified embodiment of a textile product, inaccordance with the invention; and

[0019]FIG. 2 shows the textile product from FIG. 1 while it is beingwound on a tube.

[0020]FIG. 1 shows a section of a strip-shaped textile product 10,formed here as a scrim product, with warp threads 12 and weft threads14, running in the longitudinal direction L. As shown, the weft threads14 run at an angle of 70°32′ with respect to the longitudinal directionL and thus to the warp threads 12.

[0021] The weft threads 14 project, by a piece, beyond the outermostwarp threads 12′ on both sides of the textile product 10. In actualpractice, this lateral projection is on the order of magnitude of atleast approximately one millimeter and depends on the required burstingpressure. The higher the desired bursting pressure is, the greater mustbe the lateral projection, so as to attain a sufficient loadableadhesion of the textile product in the matrix surrounding it in thelower overlapping areas described, between two windings also.

[0022] In one boundary area R of the textile product, which comprisestwo warp threads 12 here, the warp threads 12 are made thinner than theother warp threads 12. While being wound on an object to be reinforced,the boundary area R can then overlap with the boundary area R of awinding which follows axially, without the total thickness of thereinforcement layer formed by the textile product 10 differing in theoverlapping area from the thickness of the textile product innonoverlapped areas—that is, without there being thickness changes ofthe reinforcement layer along the object to be reinforced.

[0023] From FIG. 2, one can see how the textile product 10 depicted inFIG. 1 is to be wound around an object to be reinforced—in this case, atube. With reference to the longitudinal direction S of the tube, thetextile product 10 is wound on an interior layer 16 of the tube in sucha way that the warp threads 12 run at an angle of 54°44′ with respect tothe longitudinal direction S. Automatically, the weft threads 14 arethen also at an angle of 54°44′ with respect to the longitudinal axis Sof the tube and is thus arranged at an angle which is optimal withregard to the reinforcing effect. On the basis of the windings whichoverlap in the boundary area R of the textile product 10, thereinforcement in the weft direction, attained by the textile product 10,is practically as high as in the warp direction.

1. Strip-shaped textile product (10), in particular, consisting offilaments, threads, or yarn, for use as a reinforcement layer for hoses,tubes, pressure containers, and similar hollow objects, with a warpdirection, running in the longitudinal direction (L) of the textileproduct, and a weft direction, characterized in that the weft (14) ofthe textile product runs at an angle of at least approximately 70degrees with respect to the warp (12); and that the weft (14) projects,by a piece, beyond the extreme lateral warp (12′) on at least one sideof the strip-shaped textile product.
 2. Strip-shaped textile product(10), in particular, consisting of filaments, threads, or yarn, for useas a reinforcement layer for hoses, tubes, pressure containers andsimilar hollow objects, with a warp direction running in thelongitudinal direction (L) of the textile product, and a weft direction,characterized in that the weft (14) of the textile product runs at anangle of at least approximately 70 degrees with respect to the warp(12); and that the warps (12) in one boundary area (R) are made thinnerthan the other warps (12), on at least one side of the strip-shapedtextile product.
 3. Textile product according to claim 2, characterizedin that the weft (14) sticks out, by a piece, beyond the extreme lateralwarp (12′) on at least one side of the strip-shaped textile product. 4.Textile product according to one of claims 1-3, characterized in thatthe warps (12) in one boundary area (R) are made of material which isdifferent from the material of the other warps (12), on at least oneside of the strip-shaped textile product.
 5. Textile product accordingto one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is a wovenfabric, a knitted fabric, or in particular, a scrim product.
 6. Methodfor the production of a hose, tube, pressure container, or a similarobject, characterized by the step of the winding of a textile product,in accordance with one of the preceding claims, on a core of a hose,tube, pressure container or similar hollow object, in such a way thatthe warp of the textile product runs at an angle of at leastapproximately 55 degrees with respect to the longitudinal direction ofthe hose, tube, pressure container, or similar hollow object, and thatthe weft which protrudes, by a piece, beyond the extreme lateral warp,and/or the boundary areas of the strip-shaped textile product, adjacentto one another and in which the warps are formed thinner than the otherwarps, overlap.
 7. Method for the production of a hose, tube, pressurecontainer, or similar object, characterized by the step of winding of atextile product, according to one of the preceding claims, on a core ofa hose, tube, pressure container, or similar hollow object, in such away that the warp of the textile product runs at an angle of at leastapproximately 55 degrees with respect to the longitudinal direction ofthe hose, tube, pressure container, or similar hollow object, if theobject to be reinforced is exposed to the interior pressure load commonin operation, and that the weft, which protrudes, by a piece, beyond theextreme lateral warp, and/or the boundary areas of the strip-shapedtextile product, which are adjacent to one another and in which thewarps are formed thinner than the other warps, overlap.
 8. Methodaccording to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the textile product iswound on a layer of soft matrix material, which is later reinforced. 9.Method according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that a layer ofmatrix material, which is later reinforced, is brought to the textileproduct after it is wound on the aforementioned core.
 10. Methodaccording to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the textile productcontains a matrix material, which becomes soft by a temperatureincrease, which leaves the rest of the textile product unchanged, andwhich is again reinforced in the course of cooling.
 11. Method accordingto claim 10, characterized in that the matrix material is a part of athread or yarn of the textile product.